What exactly is going on in the Sudans?

[GamezRule]

Considering the massive power and economic influence the United States wields, just about everything in the world that currently exists is somehow in the national interests of the United States.

 

[gay_Aleks]

Considering the massive power and economic influence the United States wields, just about everything in the world that currently exists is somehow in the national interests of the United States.

Of course, but what the USA doesn't know is that it's biggest adversary is just right next to them.

That's right - Canada. The hockey is nothing less but a military training for both the participants and (presumably) the loser's team fans. Someday, they'll get revenge for what happened with Boston.

 

[Kyriakos]

Hm, well some part of the three Sudans has oil (is it Darfur?). Maybe they have some in the other two parts, including the South and it's future part peace-kept by the US

Edit: it seems most of the oil is in South Sudan anyway (not surprised ).

 

[Adjuvant]

To me, it seems when the USA says, "ok, we will stop trying to improve the lives of people suffering extreme sectarian violence", no one else takes up the slack. No one else seems capable of interrupting obvious human indignities.

You don't even need to cite Iraq if the economical issue's to be considered. (i.e. not enough affect on oil, ergo not worth the effort) Let's talk about Grenada. Let's talk about Kosovo.

Well, the French have a military presence in northwest Africa. That's nice that they try, I guess.

We just can't take another unpopular war right now.

 

[Tee Kay]

Not sure where the joke is.

Yesterday saw news article mentioning that Obama was thinking about sending in US troops for humanitarian purposes. This is exactly the type of not in the national interest of the US war that liberals like to get involved in, like Bosnia, Libya and almost Syria. Bush went to war for oil which is something we need at least.

No US troop ever set foot in Libya. Actually, the only significant US armed intervention (as in, actual troops on the ground) in Africa since the Second World War is Somalia, and that was very short-lived.

There's no reason to think Obama would send troops to South Sudan of all places. Even air strikes a la Libya is very unlikely. US interests are not even remotely at stake, there's no simple "goodies" and "baddies" for the media to spin, and people just don't really care.

 

[Kyriakos]

Well, it is one thing to claim that the 'political base' (ie common people with no political office) is not after wars for oil, and quite another to claim that the administration (eg Obama or his cousin Bush) is going to war for other reasons than the usual resource plundering.
The latter seems very unlikely to be the case.

As for Kosovo, sure it does not have oil (or any other source of wealth) but it set a nice precedent for spliting countries in Europe itself, after ww2 and its immediate aftermath.

 

[Lillefix]

No US troop ever set foot in Libya.

Why do the marines sing about the shores of Tripoli then?

 

[Ajidica]

Sending in the corrupt and incompetent UN would just result in a hugely expensive boondoggle where the UN troops would be raping the locals and selling weapons to both sides , just like they always do in these types of peacekeeping operations.

For the record, the quality of UN peacekeeping missions, both in the quality of the peacekeepers and the organization of the missions, has improved substantially since the late 90's/early 2000's when the UN saw the traditional troop contributing countries scaling back and increasing contributions from non-traditional troop contributing countries due to changes in politics and how peacekeepers were funded. Since then, the UN has revamped both the code of conduct and the enforcement which has lead to improved conduct and discipline among peacekeepers.

To me, it seems when the USA says, "ok, we will stop trying to improve the lives of people suffering extreme sectarian violence", no one else takes up the slack. No one else seems capable of interrupting obvious human indignities.

I dunno, France has gotten quite frisky in Mali, Libya, the CAR, and to a limited extent in the DRC. The UK has been bogged down in Afghanistan and Iraq, but they mounted a relatively successful operation in Sierra Leone (in 2000, IIRC).
ECOWAS has been involved in creating regional peacekeeping operations. Although their efforts have not been entirely successful, it is still a regional group attempting to tackle their own issues.

 

[Adjuvant]

Why do the marines sing about the shores of Tripoli then?

Because of the Barbary Wars.

I'm pretty sure he meant the most recent Libya action.

 

[Takhisis]

So, 120,000 refugees and a thousand dead already, the President of Sudan has agreed to a ceasefire. Will Machar accept?

Spoiler :

South Sudan government agrees to ceasefire as 120,000 flee fighting
African leaders welcome commitment by president and call on rival Riek Machar to do the same amid growing refugee crisis

Mark Tran and agencies
The Guardian, Friday 27 December 2013 15.37 GMT

African powers trying to broker a peace deal in the world's newest country, South Sudan, have said its government has committed to a ceasefire after two weeks of clashes that have caused more than 120,000 people to flee.

The president, Salva Kiir, agreed to an "immediate cessation of hostilities", according to east African leaders mediating in the crisis. But they added that his rival, Riek Machar, whom Kiir accuses of trying to mount a coup two weeks ago, had not made the same commitment.

The mediators "welcome the commitment by the government of Republic of South Sudan to an immediate cessation of hostilities and call upon Dr Riek Machar and other parties to make similar commitments", they said in a statement.

At least 121,600 people have fled their homes in South Sudan but the total number is likely to be much higher, according to the UN, which has urgently requested $166m (£100m) from donors to deal with the humanitarian crisis.

The number of internally displaced people in the capital, Juba, has reached an estimated 25,000 since the power struggle erupted in mid-December. About 63,000 people have sought refuge at UN peacekeeping bases, mainly in Juba, Bor, Malakal, Bentiu and Pariang.

Toby Lanzer, the UN humanitarian co-ordinator in South Sudan, said: "This is an extremely difficult time for the people of this new nation, and it is crucial that aid agencies have the resources they need to save lives in the coming months.

"There are at least 90,000 people who have been displaced in the past 10 days."

Lanzer has estimated that the death toll has already surpassed 1,000.

UN officials are particularly worried about those in and around the town of Bor, in Jonglei state, where fighting has been especially intense. Some UN officials have returned to Bor after all aid workers were evacuated on 23 December to assess conditions for the 15,000 people who fled to the UN base.

Fighting has persisted for four days in the oil-producing northerly region of South Sudan. Government forces said they had finally defeated Machar's rebels in Malakal, capital of Upper Nile State. The claim could not be independently verified.

Outside UN bases, there are large groups of displaced people in Jonglei, Lakes, Warrap and Unity states. An estimated 45,000 people are in Awerial county in Lakes state, but aid agencies have been unable to reach this large group because of security fears.

Agencies have requested the $166m from now until March 2014 to help meet the immediate needs of people affected by the crisis. This includes emergency programmes for some 200,000 refugees from Sudan.

"In Bor and Bentiu this week, I have seen just how badly the communities caught in violence need our help," Lanzer said. "Our priorities are to stay, protect, and deliver. I hope that donors and compassionate people around the world act swiftly to give aid agencies the required resources to help the people of South Sudan at this critical juncture."

The $166m represents the most urgently required resources from the overall $1.1bn programme set out by the aid community for 2014 in South Sudan.

The head of the UN mission in South Sudan, Hilde Johnson, has said that well over 1,000 people have been killed since the start of the violence on 15 December and that the casualty figures are likely to rise.

 

[gay_Aleks]

As for Kosovo, sure it does not have oil (or any other source of wealth) but it set a nice precedent for spliting countries in Europe itself, after ww2 and its immediate aftermath.

You mean, that the 90s are "immediate" aftermath of the WWII?

At this rate, the war of American Independence will be right next to the Norman invasion.

A better choice would be "after the end of the Cold War and Joseph Tito's death".

 

[Takhisis]

I think he meant that it was the first instance of country-splitting in Europe after the establishment of the Iron Curtain.

 

[Kyriakos]

I think he meant that it was the first instance of country-splitting in Europe after the establishment of the Iron Curtain.

Yes

To be more exact: of a province being taken by force, and then established as a protectorate.

 

[bhsup]

I think the Ruskies did that on their side of the iron curtain more than once...

 

[Kyriakos]

I think the Ruskies did that on their side of the iron curtain more than once...

Even if so, to have the "other side" do it too just means the old rule is dead by now.

 

[dutchfire]

Seems like the neighbours might start intervening.

 

[gay_Aleks]

Seems like the neighbours might start intervening.

And then I bet the USA will intervene into said neighbours, because we all know only the USA has the right to intervene in.

 

[Kyriakos]

Help to come soon from the USA, The Central African Republic, Darfur/North Sudan, Ethiopia, The Democratic Republic of the Kongo, Uganda, Kenya. I am sure South Sudan will be fixed in no time